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Introduction to SDL 2.0

1. Introduction to SDL

1.1. What is SDL?

Simple DirectMedia Layer is a cross-platform development library designed to provide low level access to audio, keyboard, mouse, joystick, and graphics hardware via OpenGL and Direct3D. It is used by video playback software, emulators, and popular games including Valve's award winning catalog and many Humble Bundle games.

SDL officially supports Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, and Android. Support for other platforms may be found in the source code.

SDL 2.0 is distributed under the zlib license. This license allows you to use SDL freely in any software. The Simple DirectMedia Layer library (SDL) is a general API that provides low level access to audio, keyboard, mouse, joystick, 3D hardware via OpenGL, and 2D framebuffer across multiple platforms.

1.2. What can SDL do?

Read ahead for an overview of what SDL is capable of. If you're simply interested in the changes from 1.2 to 2.0, check out the Migration Guide.

Video

3D graphics:

SDL can be used in combination with the OpenGL API or Direct3D API for 3D graphics

Accelerated 2D render API:

Supports easy rotation, scaling and alpha blending, all accelerated using modern 3D APIs

Acceleration is supported using OpenGL and Direct3D, and there is a software fallback